## EXCERPTS FROM THE BADEN SURVEYS
187

The computational results are not bad (66) — Here without doubt
40—70%, average 60% indebtedness.

...Less favorable, by contrast, are the conditions taking shape for
the small peasant population, i.e.,
on 4—7 hectares with agriculture, 2—4 hectares with commercial crops and with wine-making,
in forests up to 30 hectares...

For these small peasants the average boundary of creditworthiness
lies...
in all respects much lower than must be established for
medium and large peasants.

...For estates of the indicated size, with an average family composition
and in purely grain-producing regions, the boundaries of creditworthiness do not exceed 30% of the tax assessment, if one makes the condition the
complete assurance of regular payment of interest and debt repayment (66).

...The preceding numerical data confirm in this way the very widespread
opinion that those proprietors of peasant holdings who stand on the boundary (in the middle) between day-laborers (handicraftsmen) with a plot and
medium peasants (such rural farmers are usually ranked in the village commune as the "middle stratum"), are often in a more difficult position than
the higher and lower groups, because although they can cope fairly well with
moderate indebtedness, however already at a certain not very high limit of
indebtedness, they can only with difficulty fulfill their obligations owing to
the impossibility of having regular side earnings (day-labor, etc.) and thereby
raising their incomes. They can fulfill their obligations only when the children
have already grown up and been settled and family expenses burden these small
farms less. In contrast to this, precisely the day-laborers (handicraftsmen)
with a plot, insofar as they possess
to some degree a constant source of
supplementary earnings, are often in a more favorable position than those who
belong to the "middle stratum," since calculations conducted in many cases
prove that such earnings often give them such a sum of cash which is necessary
to cover even high indebtedness; this explains the frequently observed fact that
there, where such conditions exist, small landholders like day-laborers

188

LENIN COLLECTION

wird. (67) Aus den Berechnungen ergibt sich daher auch, wie gerade jene auf den untersten Stufen der selbständigen bäuerlichen Bevölkerung stehenden Landwirte den allermeisten Anlass haben, ihren Kredit nur in mässigem Umfang in Anspruch zu nehmen und bei ihren Liegenschaftserwerbungen das Mass ihrer finanziellen Leistungsfähigkeit doppelt streng zu prüfen.

[Concerning the question of indebtedness, data also predominate here by commune.]

Cf. especially p. 97: "Concluding result (concerning the question of indebtedness); relatively less favorable position of the small peasant population."

An investigation of indebtedness by ownership groups showed:

Almost everywhere... it has emerged... that in percentage terms the lowest ownership groups (day-laborer smallholders) are most heavily burdened, whereas by contrast within the proper peasant population the percentage burden is very much lower, generally diminishes with the size of holdings, sometimes even very rapidly, and in the upper groups (large peasant holdings) often nearly disappears altogether (89).

As a total result of the surveys concerning the level of indebtedness in the surveyed communes, the following emerges:

The real property indebtedness of day-laborer smallholders is almost everywhere very considerable. Nevertheless this part of indebtedness is the least problematic (97) — for this part of the rural population relies mainly on incomes not from land and experience shows that with proper ("to some degree") earnings day-laborers cope with debts (mostly arising from land purchase).

The real property indebtedness of medium and large peasants remains in the vast majority of all surveyed communes, even in those considered severely indebted, within the limits set by the size of holdings, and is even in a fairly considerable number of communes belonging to all economic zones, very small....

On the other hand, in a significant number of surveyed communes,
the indebtedness of the small peasant population is

NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
189

relatively greater and not without risk, if one takes into account the permissible limit of indebtedness, and since this higher indebtedness ultimately must be attributed predominantly to definite external conditions... (97) (land, climate, insufficient land, etc.), one may think that the same is encountered in other communes of the country as well.

This indebtedness is the result mainly of credit for holdings (land purchase and estate transfer).

...the application of especially greater economic caution in the purchase of real property—a point which the majority of investigation reports emphasize—is therefore first and foremost incumbent on the small peasant population and that part of the day-laborer population standing close to it (98).

Small peasants sell relatively little for cash, while their need for money is great: from this...

and the lack of capital makes for them every hail, murrain, etc., especially acute.

## NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
670

* FIRST VARIANT.

[May] b[e] divide thus:

A) Some general propositions and "theories" of B[ulgakov]
B) Factual data contra the critics
M. Hecht
B[aden] survey (in connection: Winzer)
"Strong peasantry"
K. Klawski
Peasant conditions
(Hertz, 15) Bodillard
French statistics. (Suchon and Maurice)
German statistics. (in connection: cooperatives)
Belgium (Vandervelde, Chlapowski?).
C) Class struggle or cooperation?
Distortion of E[ngels].
General data on employers and workers. Capitalist structure.

NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
191

and others gradually free small peasant plots from debts. These calculations also show that precisely those rural farmers who belong to the lower strata of the independent peasant population have the most reason for cautious use of their credit and therefore in acquiring real property must review their financial possibilities with especial caution. (66—67)

[Concerning the question of indebtedness, data also predominate here by commune.

Cf. especially p. 97: "Concluding result (concerning the question of indebtedness); relatively less favorable position of small peasant population."

An investigation of indebtedness by ownership groups showed:

Almost everywhere... it emerged that in percentage terms the most indebted are the lowest groups of landholders (day-laborers with land plots) and that by contrast for the properly peasant population this percentage ratio is considerably lower, and in general it lowers as holdings grow larger, sometimes even very rapidly, and in the higher groups (large peasant holdings) very often nearly disappears entirely (89).

In the final accounting the result of surveys of the level of indebtedness in the surveyed communes presents itself according to these data as follows:

Real property indebtedness of day-laborers with plots is almost everywhere very considerable. Nevertheless this part of indebtedness is the least problematic (97) — for this part of the rural population relies mainly on incomes not from land and experience shows that with proper ("to some degree") earnings day-laborers cope with debts (mostly arising from land purchase).

Real property indebtedness of medium and large peasants in the overwhelming majority of all surveyed communes, even in those considered extremely indebted, remains within the limits set by the size of holdings, and in a rather considerable number of communes belonging to all economic zones, this indebtedness is very small....

On the other hand in a significant number of surveyed communes
the indebtedness of small peasant population is

190

LENIN COLLECTION

relatively greater and not unproblematic, if one has regard to the permissible limit of indebtedness, and since this higher indebtedness ultimately is predominantly traceable to certain external conditions... (97) (land, climate, insufficient land, etc.), one can think that the same is encountered in other communes of the country as well.

This indebtedness—result mainly of possession credit (land purchase and estate transfer),

...application of greater (98) economic caution in real property acquisition—a point to which the majority of survey reports point—is therefore above all incumbent especially on the small peasant population and that part of day-laborer population close to it.

Small peasants sell comparatively little for cash, while their need for money is great: from this...

and the lack of capital makes for them every hail, murrain, etc., especially acute.

* * *

## NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
670

* FIRST VARIANT.

[May] b[e] divide thus:

A) Some general propositions and "theories" of B[ulgakov]
B) Factual data contra the critics
M. Hecht
B[aden] survey (in connection: Winzer)
"Strong peasantry"
K. Klawski
Peasant conditions
(Hertz, 15) Bodillard
French statistics. (Suchon and Maurice)
German statistics. (in connection: cooperatives)
Belgium (Vandervelde, Chlapowski?).
C) Class struggle or cooperation?
Distortion of E[ngels].
General data on employers and workers. Capitalist structure.

NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
191

K. Klawski.
B) French data on proprietors and proletariat in agriculture.
(Ad A?) Electricity in agriculture
Г)
B
Pringsheim
Mack
Kautsky

* See Lenin, Works, vol. IV, p. 195, note.

1370

* THIRD VARIANT.

CRITICS ON THE AGRARIAN QUESTION.

A) 1. Introduction. A breach in orthodox Marxism (Ch[ernov] No. 4, 127).

2. General methods and "theories" of the critics. B[ulgakov]: law of diminishing returns (cf. Maslov)

3. Refutation of it by B[ulgakov]'s own data.

4. Theory of rent (cf. Maslov).

5. Malthusianism: cf. Ireland.

II 6. Hertz (+ B[ulgakov]). Agricultural machines, large and small production (B[ulgakov] 8 * G[ertz]: e**). Contra B[ulgakov] I 240 and 115, 133.

7. Hertz. "Definition of capitalism" (and Chernov)

8. — mortgages (and Chernov). Cf. B[ulgakov] on savings banks II 375.

9. — E[ngels] on America. (Idem Chernov). B[ulgakov] II 433 (cf. I 49)

Electricity in agriculture (Pr[ingsheim], Mack, K. K[autsky]).

— law of diminishing soil fertility. Ed.
See plan of objections to Bulgakov, p. 127. Ed.
** See plan of objections to Hertz, p. 145. Ed.

NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
193

III 10. Chernov. Denunciation of K[autsky] (A—b* Chern[ov]). Ibidem K[autsky] on usury, K[autsky] on recognition of proletariat. Voroshilov.**

11. Voroshilov on N.—one and so forth (A—1* Chern[ov])

12. " "Form and content" of capitalism

B)) IV. 1.1/** M. Hecht (Blondel, Hertz, David, Chernov).

2.4. K. Klawski (contra Auhagen) (B[ulgakov])

3.5. Peasant conditions (Citations from Hertz and Bulgakov])****

4.2. B[aden] survey.

5.3. Conclusions on "strong" peasantry (B[ulgakov] e *****. Hertz—p. 6 NB, Hertz 5 ******. Chern[ov] on petty bourgeois peasantry. Chern[ov] No. 7, 163; No. 10, 240).

[4. In connection with this: Winzer cooperatives.]

VI 6. Bodillard (Hertz p. 15, etc., B[ulgakov] II, 282)

[7. French statistics] Suchon and Maurice.

VII 8. French statistics. (Property and agricultural labor******* cf. Hertz: "no proletarianization" p. 59. Employers and workers; enterprises with wage workers]).

VIII 9. German statistics. Latifundia. (Cf. Hertz and B[ulgakov]).

9 bis. German statistics (Cf. B[ulgakov] II 106).

B) 10. German statistics. Industrialization of rural industry (B[ulgakov] and Hertz. p. 88).

11. German statistics. Cooperatives. Cf. B[aden] data on Winzer.

IX 12. Belgium. (Vandervelde, Chlapowski).

C)) X 1. General data on employers and workers. (Capitalist structure)

* See plan of objections to Chernov, p. 159. Ed.
** Voroshilov—V. Chernov. Ed.
*** Second row of figures—original arrangement of points. Ed.
**** See p. 166 of the Collection. Ed.
***** See plan of objections to Bulgakov, p. 128. Ed.
****** See plan of objections to Hertz, p. 145. Ed.
******* — agricultural labor. Ed.
******** Several words not deciphered. Ed.

Lenin Collection XIX
13

194

LENIN COLLECTION

2. Outrage* with "peasantry."

3. Distortion of E[ngels] (The peasant question) (Hertz, Chernov).

4. B[ulgakov] [more consistent]).

5. Class struggle or cooperation.

6. Böttger.

G)) XI Russian agrarian program and No. 3 *Iskra*. Statement of the question in Iskra. Objections to Zab***
Pro and contra arguments.

* — Outrage. Ed.
** — Peasant question. Ed.
*** Zab—pseudonym of P. N. Lepeshinskii during the *Iskra* period. Ed.

NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
194

* FOURTH VARIANT.

CRITICS ON THE AGRARIAN QUESTION.

I ****

1. Introduction. Agrarian question — a "breach" (for the first time) in orthodox Marxism. (Ch[ernov] No. 4, 127; No. 8, 204).

2. General theoretical propositions and considerations of the critics (B[ulgakov], G[ertz] and Ch[ernov]).

B[ulgakov]: law of diminishing returns (cf. Maslov).

Phrases of B[ulgakov]: 1, 2, 45, 47, 18, 20, 21, (29—30 especially), 34, 55, 64 and many others (Cf. K. K[autsky] against Brentano. Not for nothing does B[ulgakov] admire Brentano). I, 116.)

3. Refutation of this law by the data of B[ulgakov] himself: in England: I, 242, 260; in Germany: II 132—3. In France II, 211.

4. Theory of rent. (Cf. Maslov). B[ulgakov] I, 92. / 0 5. ttt—5.

5. Malthusianism. B[ulgakov] I, 214, 255. II 41 etc. II 212 (France NB) — cf. II 159. Esp. II 221 et seq. 223, 237 Bulg[akov] from Hertz 233, 249, 265 (and 261). Ireland II 351, 384. (Remarkable).

II

6. B[ulgakov] + G[ertz] Agricultural machines. B[ulgakov] I, 43—51. G[ertz] p. 40, 60—65.

Practical relation to agricultural machines: G[ertz], 65; B[ulgakov] I 51—2; II 105.

Contra on machines. G[ertz] 36 (America); 43—4; 15 (latifundia), 124 (steam plow). B[ulgakov] I 240; II 115, 133.

7. B[ulgakov] + G[ertz]. Large and small production. B[ulgakov] I 142, 154; II 135; 280 (Cf. 282—3)

Contra B[ulgakov] I 259—240.

G[ertz] 52, 81. (Machines in small farms). Contra 74 (= labor rent); 89—90 (Agricultural labor-rent); 91—2 (Side-earnings).

B[ulgakov] II 247 (small production rich in capital).

Machines and England: I 252 (G[ertz] 67: increase of yield from steam plow).

Contra B[ulgakov]. In England: I 311, 316, 318—9. Small production suffered. I 333 (in England—? their (small) viability not proven?).

France II 188. (Decrease of medium—Bulgakov's loopholes) II 213 (small "goes ahead"??). Ireland II 359—360.

8. G[ertz]: "definition of capitalism" (p. 10) — and Ch[ernov] No. 4, 133.

NOTES ON THE WORK "THE AGRARIAN QUESTION AND THE 'CRITICS OF MARX'"
195

9. G[ertz] (and B[ulgakov] in "Nachalo"?) — mortgages. G[ertz] 24, 26, 28. (Ch[ernov] No. 10, 216—7). Answer of K[autsky].

10. "E[ngels]'s error" (G[ertz] 31; Ch[ernov] No. 8, 203). Cf. B[ulgakov] I 49 and II 433 ("naivete").

Cf. Electricity in agriculture (Pr[ingsheim], Mack, K. K[autsky]).

11. Ch[ernov] — "Form and content of capitalism": No. 6, 209; No. 8, 228.

12. Ch[ernov] on Russian Marxists: No. 4, 139*; No. 4, 141; No. 8, 238; No. 10, 213; No. 11, 241 and No. 7, 166 (who are the comrades?) praise of Nikolas—one and K[a]bl[u]k[o]v: No. 10, 237.

13. Ch[ernov]. Denunciation of K[autsky]: "not having even mastered M[arx]" (XI 7, 169) — idem in the collection "On the Glorious Post" on usury, on signs of proletariat. Voroshilov: XI 8, 229. (cf. K. K[autsky]).

Distortion of M[arxism]: International: XI 5, 35. M[arx] on agriculture No. 6, 216, 257 and many others. E[ngels] on Belgium, No. 10, 231*.

Journal "Nachalo" No. 1, p. 7 and 13**.

IV

14. M. Hecht (Blondel, p. 27, Hertz 68, 79; Ch[ernov] XII 8, 206. David).

15. K. Klawski (B[ulgakov] I 58). 2 words about Auhagen. G[ertz] 70 and B[ulgakov] I 58. Cf. G[ertz] 66: yield in Prussia and South Germany).

The rest of this section and the following paragraph are slightly crossed out in pencil. Ed.
The last phrase is slightly crossed out in pencil. Ed.
Recorded in pencil. Ed.